Archive for June, 2007

Set off at 8.30 this morning (after a rather heavy night with Bob and Colin) to go up the Wigan flight. We teamed up with Frode and family (over from Norway for a holiday)Â and shared the 23 locks up to the top. We carried onto Wheelton,Â after a further flight of 7 locks.Â A fabulous evening, Paul and I thought we had better get on as torrential rain is forecast for tomorrow – again! The water has heated nicely (pauls repairs have done the trick) so its showers all round and an early night.

Well – our diesel water heated stopped working while on the Weaver. I needed to replace the glow plug, meanwhile a lot of unburnt diesel built up in the unit.Â When fixed it produced large clouds of smoke (see below) which attracted many concerned enquiries but luckly no one phone the fire brigade. Looks like a persistent problem so ordering more glow plugs just in case.

Moored at Dover Lock Inn (which is nowhere near Dover and thereÂ are no locks – any more) – we wait here until tomorrow to go up the Wigan Flight.Â Started raining just as we moored up.Â Had a good run from Lymm along the Bridgewater Canal, up at 6am – well at least we missed the rain today.

Tuesday morning the River has definitely risen, it is up 2ft and the bridge ahead has only 7ft 6ins clearance now reduce to 5ft 6ins, too low for us to get under.Â So we are moored here for the day or until the water level drops.Â

The Weaver has proved to be bothÂ scenic and eventful.Â We intended to go down stream to where it meets the Manchester Ship Canal but the first lock downstream was closed.Â So we headed upstream through Northwich.

Â We moored overnight above Vale Royal Lock, Sunday was a sunny evening and we had a walk via the old abbey site and in to the village of Moulton.

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Â As forecast Monday was wet, we headed down to Northwich to do some shopping.Â There was quite a flow but we moored up ok.

The blog has been neglected last few days, however we have been moving onward. Spent a couple of days at Great Heyword meeting with friends and then headed up the T&M. Anne and Jeff then headed off down the Staffs and Worcs. Went through Harecastle tunnel today – saw a very smart Ivor Batchelor now working for BW.

Roly has stablised, well he still lists to one side but he is doing better. Tried him on some painkillers but didn’t agree.

Planning to go down Anderton boat lift next week and onto the River Weaver for a couple of days before heading back up to Skipton.

A wonderfull weekend at the rally, lots of experts on gardner engines and many people like ourselves just proud to own an engine. Saturday evening we had a fish and chip supper and trip through the Dudley tunnel. We finally met Danny who restored our engine (in green hat) who we also discovered was partial to a drop of ale. He was pleased to see the engine running well if in need of some polish! Pam and Alan won best engine at the rally, with Brummie Jem with the last 2L2 Danny restored (ours was his first). Picture below of Alan receiving his trophy.

Sunday evening we joined those left for dinner at the Railway nearby – below are the crowd and we must pass on our thanks to the Gardner Forum for all their excellent organisation of this (free) event.